Plans by Israel’s Interior Security Minister Gilad Erdan to worsen the conditions for Palestinian prisoners have encountered “wide opposition” from the Israeli military and Shin Bet.

According to the report in Haaretz, representatives of various security organisations “warned about the possible consequences of such a move” in a debate this week, “saying it could escalate tensions within the prisons and agitate the Palestinian public in the West Bank and Gaza Strip”.

An Erdan-appointed committee has recommended “removing the customary division in various branches between prisoners identified with Fatah and those identified with Hamas, reduction in family visits for prisoners from the West Bank, prohibiting purchase of food items from outside the prison and revocation of privileges to make purchases at the prison canteen”.

On Monday, a discussion was held at the National Security Council under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the recommendations, “with the participation of representatives from all the branches of the security establishment”.